-20-

The project

-Part 2-

1979

Captain Jackson Darby was instructing his men left and right, as they were securing the place. To find the Reinblütigen here in South America was big. But to discover an alien space craft- even bigger. If they were to use whatever technology they'd have found here to restore the Reign, then more the reason to secure it.

One man, though, knew people who owned him a favor. So when the team-leader of their unit left, he had his group do their job.

It was hard to do it though. After all, The Headmasters were a special group. Soldiers of greatest achievements. Extremely hard to fool or deceive. Nearly impossible to outmaneuver. In comparison to them, the Dirty Dozen seemed like a bunch of rookies.

But Bishop timed things right. And under the cover of the night, he and his men managed to smuggle one of the cube-shaped devices away.

1995

"Captain Connor Darby!" Colonel Bishop called. The man he called had strong features, despite his age. Yet strongly revealing his Native American Indian ancestry. His shoulders were wide, and the build muscular, though slim. Connor approach his higher-up and saluted.

"Sir! Anything wrong, Sir?" he asked.

"No, Captain. It's not the matter of what you did. It's the matter of what you are about to do." Bishop said. His aged face had a mysterious smile. "We have a special project we're working on. We'd like you to take part in it."

"Sir?" Connor asked.

"Think about it, Captain. It is a new gear. My team managed to finally build it, but I need a volunteer of your caliber. It might save many people. Even more than half the people we have sent to the Middle East." He suggested.

"Sir. I am sure there are more qualified men than me for this kind of assignment."

"Perhaps. But I am offering this to you because your father and I are friends. And also... because your brother was part of the project. Think of it as a chance to honor his memory."

Captain Darby stood there for a while. He was uncertain of what to do at first. Then again, this could prove to be a great opportunity for him. He was not able to take part in the Gulf War, but this was his chance to ensure no one else suffered.

"Just fill me on the details, Sir!" he responded. And Silas smiled.

2 weeks forward...

"Congratulations, Captain." Colonel applauded. "You performed well. And the gear... marvelous." He said, approaching the black suit with few lights and what appeared to be the vials. "The Regeneration Accelerative Combat Suit, aka T.R.A.C.S., performed very well."

"I don't think the military will consider it though." Conner said as the doctor was attending to his wounds, which were minor. Still, his wife would kill him. "The suit only injects pain killer and adrenaline."

"We are still on our way there, Captain. And before you know it..." he paused, reaching for the needle from the doctor, who nodded. Leland smiled. "Our soldiers will be able to handle anything." He finished, administrating the fluid, which secretly was filled with microscopic robots. Their purpose- 'correct' the DNA of the child in its conception.

2003

The alleys of Latta City were not the safest of places, but it was always a good place to do business. Leland Bishop, retired for two years now, was awaiting here for his contact from the military. He sighed in slight irritation as he checked his watch. The contact still had about a minute, but Bishop would prefer to get this over with. His patience was rewarded when another man in coat came into view, checking his surroundings.

"Colonel?" the man, around his fifties, asked.

"It would appear that the Darbies are on to something." Leland said, getting straight to business. "Deal with Captain Darby."

"How do you expect me to do that?"

"There is a terrorist base in southern region of Iraq. Send him there with about ten men."

The contact looked at him in shock. "B-b-but they can't handle them..."

"This isn't about them dealing with the terrorists, Major. This is about ensuring that our little project remains secret." He explained with a wicked smile.

The man nodded in understanding and walked away. When Bishop was finally alone, he coughed. His body was old and weak. It sickened him. He needed to do something about it.

2004

About eight months passed since Conner's death. Leland was a bit saddened by the fact, but it was necessary. He was now sitting in his seat in the hidden compound, watching his men as they worked on the cube and the projects. At the same time, the tubes were pumping the red, glowing liquid into his body. He growled.

"I thought you said this would help, Professor!" he shouted at the scientist with a gas mask on his face. Any other scientist would flinch or panic. But not this one. The one known only as Professor chuckled.

"Surely you don't expect this is going to affect you in a manner of seconds, Bishop." The man mocked.

"This is base on the data we extracted from that alien device! It should have worked!"

"Magic is just science we simply do not understand yet. So, by reverse-engineering it, we weaken its wonderful effects." Professor reasoned. That made Bishop snarl more, but he couldn't argue with that.

"Sir!" the man entered the room hastily, running towards his superior. He stopped just a few feet away and took a few seconds to catch his breath. "The Darby family... Sir, they left the city." He reported.

Bishop's eyes widened. "What do you mean? You make it sound as if..."

"General Darby apparently called in a few favors, Sir. We lost them." The man reported. In his anger, the ex-military pulled out his gun and shot the man. He fired everything he had. Then threw the gun at the corpses. He knew only one man who could organize the family's disappearance like that.

"Lennox. You sly little..." he cursed, as his features seemed to regain vitality. The skin looked more like in his thirties. He turned to Professor. "Project: Übermensch must be found immediately!" he demanded.

Present

Jack shot a lightening, hitting Optimus in the leg. The titan fell to his knees in pain. He looked up to find the teen slowly hovering down, electricity dancing in his hands. This version of Circuit Breaker Armor was certainly more advanced than the one worn by Beller. Optimus remembered the report Agent Fowler gave the Bots about the woman. Turned out that after a week she died. The suit messed up her bio-electrochemistry to the point it burned her neural system.

And now Jack was wearing the same technology. Hopefully, its improvement involved that aspect.

His train of thoughts stopped when the teen fired again. This time it was a bolt of energy. But Arcee managed to deflect it, as Ratchet attended to Optimus's leg. The white femme looked at her charge, who was for reasons unknown working with the M.E.C.H. But why was he? Was he always their agent? No, it couldn't be. Not a chance. Then maybe they blackmailed or threatened him? That was a possibility. Then again, they may have as well reprogrammed him, eh... brainwash, was it? She had to put the thought aside when Jack cast another lightening, aiming at her. Arcee barely managed to dodge it. When she found her footing again, and Optimus and Ratchet were in safe distance, Jack landed on the ground, staring at her with a blank expression. Arcee was again overcome by confusion.

Then Silas's laugh could be heard. Arcee turned her gaze onto the man for a second. Luckily, Jack did not take the window.

"How do you find my perfect being, machines?" he asked with the look of madness in his eyes. "You really think you can defeat him?"

Optimus looked at Jack. The teen was still in place, projecting electric dome around himself, as his long hair float. The Last of the Primes looked up at Silas with the mixture of anger and discuss.

"How could you do this to him, Silas?" Optimus asked with angry tone. "How could you turn one of you own race, a child no less, into a living weapon?"

Silas merely raised an eyebrow. "You really are stupid, aren't you?" Silas asked, as Jack finally leaped towards Arcee, shooting bolts of energy at her. She was able to dodge them, but didn't know how long could she keep this up before Jack managed to hit her.

"Jack is hardly a true human or god." Silas continued. "He's just a prototype. An experiment that will show where improvements need to be done. For example, after we brought him here, we needed to finalize the improvements the Microbots made. It wasn't easy due to his attitude. But after placing the brainwave- coordinator on his head..." Silas gestured at Jack. And now the three Bots, who looked more carefully at the teen, noticed the band-like device on his head, "... Jack became extremely obedient."

"Yet clearly he is not as perfect as you want him to be!" Ratchet snarled and got up. "I don't know what you did to Jack exactly, but it clearly must've had a drawback on him!"

"Of course he's not perfect. One of the things we must take care of is the unstable genetic structure. For now though..." Silas looked down, as the lights on Jack's chest seemed to eject, revealing themselves to be vials with the similar liquid Bishop's been injecting himself. The vials rotated 360, filling full and while pulling back, injected the liquid into Jack's body. The teen shivered a bit, as his veins glowed under his skin. Even his eyes glowed green before returning to normal. The teen looked at the Autobots and charged them, delivering lightening by lightening. Arcee leaped onto the buildings, whilst Optimus and Ratchet were taking cover behind the structures, crates and/or vehicles. Optimus and Arcee wanted to take Jack down to safe him, but feared they might hurt him. The medical officer, however, was more decisive on the matter and charged at the boy, pulling out his blaster from his forearm and shooting at the boy, hoping his energy manipulation would be more focused on protecting him from the bolts. When he got close enough, Ratchet tossed his blaster aside and grabbed Jack. Not for long, though. His entire superstructure got to light like a light bulb. After a few seconds, Ratchet was finally sent flying in pain, causing him to hit the wall of the building on the path. Silas smile at the few. Then turned his attention to the Dinobots.

Things were not going as smoothly. Ironhide, who was using his hammer, was able to give Grimlock a beating. The beast tried to use its flames, but the Autobot sergeant just wouldn't give it a chance. The robotic T-rex was about to use its tail. Ironhide didn't manage to dodge it, but was able to keep his balance. But then used his cannons at Grimlock. And D-01 fell down under the blast's force.

Silas snarled as he looked around to find Slug being easily dodged by Bulkhead, who then every time, using his mace, hit the Dino-bot in its rear. The robotic Triceratops was about to charge again, when Hot Ride, using all his might, lifted Snarl above him and tossed him at Slug. Both Bots high-fived.

"Remember how mentioned my sensitive side?" Bulkhead asked. "Well forget about it! Breaking stuff is fun!" he cheered, making the former Decepticon spy chuckle.

Bumblebee seemed to have a harder time, since he couldn't knock out Sludge. However, it had less success hitting the scout. And Swoop just couldn't shake Jetfire off its tail. Silas narrowed his eyes, mad at the fact that even with their new upgrades, his robots were losing to these alien machines. Their AI must've been too limited to fight more sufficiently.

"This the best you've got, fleshy?" Ironhide mocked. "Is there nothing more?" The leader of Mechanics of Evolution and Cybernation of Humanity glared at the red-an-dark grey Autobot. He was angered. He was certain that the Dinobots would be more than a match for them. Then again, they still had things to show.

Silas smirked. "Oh, but there is." He said, turning back to Jack. "Übermensch! Activate Protocol: King!" he called. The teen turned to the Dinobots and raised his hands. Soon he was hovering above the ground, above the Autobots. After a few seconds he stopped and got engulfed in electricity. The Bots were confused for a while, trying to figure out what's he up to. Then Jack shot five streams of energy at the Dinobots and kept it for about five seconds. Then the beams died out. At first nothing happened.

Then Grimlock got up on his feet and... what happened next got the Autobots shocked. Grimlock roared before its small hands and ribs seemed to fold, which followed with apparent falling apart of the drone. Then it stood up on two different set of legs, as its original seemed to pull onto its back, revealing its yellow torso and becoming arms. The feet opened, the toe talons became knuckles. And finally a black, square head with two horns and a visor popped out.

Grimlock just... transformed.

"By the Matrix..." Ratchet gasped. "How is this possible...?" he asked, wondering at the same time. There should be no way for M.E.C.H. to build a transformation-cog- the part that allowed the Cybertronians to transform into different vehicles- and its co-part, the mass shifter- the part that would change the size of particular parts of their structure to the particular size (explaining how Arcee could transform into a motorcycle despite being a 22 foot tall female robot).

"Amazing what technology is available when you have the alien cube, a dead alien robot and a super-genius." Silas commented, watching as the other Dinobots transformed as well, though they looked more grotesque in comparison to the Autobots or even Grimlock. More animalistic. Still, he was impressed to see their transformations. And as the Dinobots reengaged their opponents, they all got hit by something.

"What the...?!" Silas shouted, looking around. He found about a dozen military choppers approaching and firing at the Dinobots. "The military? But how?" the man wondered.

The Ark

Jazz inputted a few more commands into the console, before pulling the lever and opening the ground-bridge. "It'd be best if I go and provide a helpful hand, y'all." He said, approaching the vortex. But before he could enter it, Kelly got in his way.

"Please, let me come with you." She begged. Jazz looked at her with an apologetic expression.

"Sorry, sweet-heart. But I can't put you in harm's way. We didn't with Jack. And we're not doin' it with ya." He said.

"But... I can't lose him." She said. Kelly was a strong girl ever since their mom died. She had to be. For Jack's sake. But now, for the first time in 8 years, tears were running down her face. "Jack is all the family I have left. I promised to look after him. If anything happens, I won't be able to face grandpa, mom or dad in death." She managed to say while fighting the tears.

Jazz just looked at her.

The steel mill

The Dinobots were backing slowly as the choppers were hitting them. Missile after missile hitting the target or near enough to shake them. And the Autobots took their distance from where they provided fire support with their more accurate aim. Seeing this, Silas grew angry. He would not have his army beaten like this.

"Übermensch! Dispose of these annoyances!" he gestured at the choppers. He surely could have his prototype to deal with the Autobots, but they were too advanced, so the Circuit Breaker Armor couldn't manipulate them like it could the military craft.

The teen, who was still in the air, turned to the choppers. One of them focused on Jack and opened fire, much to the Autobots' horror. But Jack managed to order the M.E.C.H. tanks to jump high and take the shot. Then he gestured at the craft and, one by one, they would all fall as Jack simply made their systems fail.

Silas smiled at the sight. His prototype seemed to operate perfectly. And with the new CBA Jack was truly a god in his eyes. Now nothing could stop M.E.C.H.

"It's over, Silas." A voice came from behind. Silas turned to find Agent fowler pointing a gun at him. "You're under arrest, Colonel Bishop."

"Afraid not, Agent Fowler." Silas answered calmly. "You see, I still have a fight to see 'til its end."

"And what's to stop me? Fowler asked, approaching the man. But he got close enough...

"Me." Leland quickly kicked the federal agent's gun out of his hand and punched him. Fowler didn't even manage to react. He looked up at the man, who reached into his pocket for the vial and injected the liquid into himself. His face deemed to rejuvenate in an instant. Then removed his coat, fully revealing his armor.

"What are you?" Fowler asked.

"I am Cy-L.A.S. As in Cybernetic Life Augmented by Symbiosis." He said, cracking his knuckles. "Thanks to the suit, my body's in its prime again. Even better. I am at top physical condition possible. And thanks to this..." he showed a now almost empty vial, with just a few drops left in it, "... my internal organs, heart and brain included, won't fail for at least another fifty years. I have cheated age. The first step to cheating death, Agent Fowler."

William Fowler was not one to easily loose his cool in the tight situation. But this was just ridiculous. What that man was talking about was insane. Yet he saw him. The man who should be in his seventies was looking like in his twenties and was far stronger. Fowler shook the idea off and tried to engage the man. Cy-L.A.S. just caught his fist and tightened his grip, causing the federal agent to fall to his knees and cry in pain. Then delivered a knee to the African American agent's face, knocking him out.

"Relax, Agent Fowler. And let me enjoy the show." Cy-L.A.S. commented, turning back to his creation, as the last chopper fell out of the sky.

Jack turned to face the Autobots and dropped down. He watched as they were still shooting the Dinobots. How fortunate their armor was strong enough to provide that much protection. Then he motioned for the M.E.C.H. tanks to fall in line. The bipedal machines set in line before the Dinobots, ready to open fire. Jack was about to order them to attack, when someone caught him from behind and pinned him down to the ground. The Autobots, and Cy-L.A.S., turned to find Kelly.

"Jackson. Snap out of it!" she cried. But to her shock, his face remained emotionless. "Jackson? Little brother? Please! It's me! Kelly! Wake up!" she shook him. But he still seemed unfazed. Yet something did happen.

Jack zapped her.

To the Autobots' horror, Jack zapped Kelly, still unfazed. Before she fell to the ground, he caught her by the neck and lifted her as high as he could. Another doze of the liquid got injected into his body as he seemed to process the situation. Jack seemed ready to zap her to death, when he quickly let her go and leaped back, avoiding an energon blade, Jazz's favorite weapon.

He looked at unconscious form of the older Darby. He felt sorry for her. And guilty for letting on this mission. "Jack won't forgive himself for doing this. Or me for taking you." He murmured, before looking back at the teen, who seemed ready to engage him.

Jazz tightened his grip on his blade. He did not want to do this. But could have no choice.

He dashed at Jack, throwing the small balls, filled with the same liquid used to disable the original Circuit Breaker. But Jack seemed to foresee this, as he managed to blast the balls and fly out of range. That's when the Autobot SIC pulled out his mini-gun and started to shoot at Jack, who just deflected them.

"Jazz! What are you doing?" Arcee asked in panic.

"Jazz! Seize fire! Jackson is our friend!" Optimus followed.

"I know that, Optimus!" Jazz responded, with a serious tone. "But he's wearing the CBA and fights for the M.E.C.H. If we don't go at him with our full strength, we will fall." He tossed his firearm aside when Jack hit it with a deflected bolt and pointed his blade at the teen. Jack just gestured for the Dinobots to engage the Autobots, while he shot lightening at Jazz. The cyber-ninja leaped to the side, avoiding the attack, but got hit by Swoop. The teen hovered towards Jazz. The electricity zapping the ground and anything within close proximity.

Then Arcee appeared before him. Jack stopped. He looked back to Find Optimus towering over him.

"Jackson. You need to return to yourself." Optimus tried to reason. But Jack just shot an energy ball at him, which separated into several. They all hit the Prime, sending him to the ground. But that left his back open. Arcee got hold of Jack in a bear hug.

"Listen, partner." She started. "I want you to focus and wake up. You hear me kid?"

Her words fell on depth ears. Jack created a large sphere of light. After a second or two, it vanished. The result- Arcee was whole burned. She fell to the ground, barely conscious.

"Excellent, my prototype." Cy-L.A.S. congratulated. "The machines have proven inferior to your might. Now finish them. Start with the red one." He ordered.

Jack turned to Optimus and was now hovering above him. He raised his hand, which was now engulfed in electricity and light. He was ready to deliver the blow. Optimus was spark-broken. He failed. He failed to ensure the boy's safety. He shut his optics, ready for the blow.

But it never came.

Optimus had his optics back online and saw Jack still in the same position. Only now he seemed to tremble. The gathered energy slowly vanishing, a single tear ran down his cheek. Was the boy regaining his senses? Jack looked at Kelly, finally expressing an emotion- guilt.

"What are you waiting for?" Cy-L.A.S. demanded. "FINISH HIM!" he roared. The teen seemed now ready to deliver the blow after all. Yet there was still hesitation. After a moment, he shut his eyes...

And let out a roared, shooting in Cy-L.A.S.'s direction. It was a barrage of bolts. Bishop's eyes widened in horror. He wanted to escape, but got hit. The whole barrage hit the catwalk, strangely not harming Agent Fowler, who was just covered in dirt. And Cy-L.A.S. was gone.

Jack trashed for a few seconds, before reaching for the headband and tearing it off. Then he shot up into the sky, and looked at the Dinobots and M.E.C.H. drones, filled with anger.

"This! ENDS! NOW!" he roared, curling into a ball and glowing. Then released a powerful energy discharge, hitting the drones. He let out an inhuman cry, as burn marks were appearing on his body. The drones may have fallen, but the Dinobots seemed to keep fighting. But Jack just released more energy, zapping them. The vials exploded, the armor started to fall off and Jack was still able to keep hitting. Finally, after about 40 seconds, he stopped, as the Dinobots fell into the building, which collapsed on top of them. And Jack finally gave in and started to fall.

"Jack!" Hot Ride called, transforming and racing towards his probable fall spot. And in the last second he caught him. The Autobots were in pain, but managed to gather around the boy, who was unconscious. And in obvious pain. His sister, who was in Ratchet's servo, opened her eyes and looked at her little brother. She smiled weakly.

"You're safe now, baby brother..." she said quietly.

The Ark, few days later

Everyone and everybot was waiting. They were all repaired. But Jack's condition was still an unknown. And that worried them. Finally, Ratchet came out of the room with a tired expression. He looked up to find everyone looking at him with curious expressions. They wanted to know.

"So, docbot? How's Jack?" Miko asked.

"Well, Kelly and I removed the armor and all the implants M.E.C.H. placed in him. But what they did to him on the genetic level is beyond my skills and expertise." He reported with a solemn tone.

"Ratchet. Clarify." Optimus requested.

"His brain activity has changed drastically. His intelligence may have been enhanced. But his genetic code , being a fusion of DNA and CNA is unstable even more than before. The liquid from his armor seemed to somehow stabilize him and keep him under M.E.C.H.'s influence. I'll try and make some energon shots just for him."

Hearing that, the kids' eyes widened. Raf stepped forward and spoke. "W-wait. Ratchet, I thought you said energon is dangerous to humans."

"Under normal circumstances it is. But Jack's CNA should stabilize. Of course I'll need to work on it." Ratchet said, approaching the console.

Arcee approached the medic. "I-is Jack... can I see him?" she asked hesitantly.

"Just know..." he sighed before looking at her with pain in his optics. "He's catatonic. Kelly's been trying to communicate with him, but with no success."

Arcee nodded in understanding and made her way into the room where Jack was resting.

As she entered, she found her charge in the bed in the middle of the room. His eyes were half open and Kelly kept talking to him, telling him about their childhood. She was a psychiatrist, as well as a nurse. So she hoped he'd wake up hearing her voice. But so far, she was unsuccessful. And clearly losing faith.

She finally got up and moved towards the exit. She needed the rest. The bags under her eyes said as much. Arcee approached Jack and kneeled next to him, holding a piece of cake in her servo. She was hesitant for a moment. Finally finding her courage, she spoke.

"Hey, Jack." She greeted him. "I'm... not sure if you can hear me, but... I've been planning a birthday party for you." She paused, seeing no reaction from him. She continued. "I was pretty disappointed when you didn't show up, y'know? But when I learned you were gone..." she paused, wondering where she was going with this. She shook her head. Never mind that now. "Anyway, even though it's two months after that, Happy Birthday, Jack." She put the plate with the cake next to him. Still no response. Her expression saddened. Her helm fell.

"Jack. I just want you to know, I wish I could have been there. I wish I could save you from all this." She said. The boy was still silent. She sighed. "I... I'll come by later." She said, turning to the exit.

She stopped.

She looked around to find her servo held by Jack. He held onto her desperately. It shocked and surprised her.

"Don't." he said. She seemed confused, until he finally raised his head to look at her. "Stay." He clearly asked.

"Jack." Arcee was happy, and helped the teen lie down in the bed. The boy finally awoke.

It would appear things would be back to normal.

The steel mill

The wreckage, debris and trash were still lying everywhere. But now no one was around to look at it. There was nothing to look for. Bishop's body was nowhere to be found. Clearly the man managed to survive and escape.

But they were to keep looking, they would find movement. But it was something bigger than human. Grimlock dug himself out of that debris. He was slightly damaged, but it was just a mesh wound. He got up, barely holding himself. He raised his servos, analyzing them. Then the unexpected happened. Something that probably Jack caused with that final zap.

"M-m-m... Me... G-gg-Gr-Grim...lock..."

End

A.N.: Well, another chapter. What do you think? Good? Bad? Seriously, let me know in the review. That way, you will motivate me to put more effort into this story. What's the next chapter? Hm... That depends on my mood. When will it come? Your support will tell. Also, I invite you to both my poll on my profile site and to the 3-way-x-over me, Ultimate10 and viking7734 are writing, Transformers: Alliance. I also welcome you to read their stories. Well, see ya.

My cast:

Connor Darby- Mark Meer

Grimlock- Gregg Berger